10 Americans reach freestyle finals at Dave Schultz Memorial
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by Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
Jordan Oliver advances to the finals of the Dave Schultz Memorial International on Friday afternoon. John Sachs photo.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Tyler Graff is back on the mat.
And he’s returned with a vengeance.
The past U.S. Junior and University World Team member turned in an impressive first session to storm into the Dave Schultz Memorial International finals on Friday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
Graff capped his strong early run by pinning 2011 World Team member Nick Simmons in the men’s freestyle semifinals at 57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Graff, a 2014 NCAA runner-up for Wisconsin, advances to face returning Schultz champion Omak Syuryun of Russia in the finals. Graff also knocked off 2013 World Team member Angel Escobedo 4-1 in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Graff was one of 10 Americans to reach the finals. The finals are set for 5:15 p.m. Mountain Time.
It will be a great matchup in the finals at 65 kg/143 lbs. with two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey set to battle past Junior World medalist and two-time NCAA champion Jordan Oliver.
Humphrey powered into the finals with a 10-0 technicall fall over Russia’s Murad Nukhkadiev.
“I am wrestling pretty well. I’m finally filling into the weight class,” Humphrey said. “I wrestled some guys who were pretty big, but I am not feeling it like I did at the Bill Farrell International or at the Trials even.
“Things are looking really good for me. I came in ranked eighth in the country. I don’t know how that works. It’s not like I’m No. 1. I have nothing to lose. I need to be in shape and wrestle really hard, and I can do that a lot easier at 65 kg.”
2009 World Team member Dustin Schlatter looked strong in advancing to the finals against 2014 World Team member Nick Marable at 70 kg/154 lbs.
Schlatter, an NCAA champion for Minnesota, remains a top prospect in freestyle despite not competing much in recent years.
“I feel good. It’s the first time out there in a while,” Schlatter said. “I wrestled a couple of matches in the summer. I had a long break. I am getting my rhythm down and having fun. I will stay at this weight for this year.
“My goal is to win the World title. For the first time in my Senior career, I have a weight class which is probably right for me.”
2012 Schultz champion Dom Bradley advanced to the finals against Russia’s Pavel Krivtsov at heavyweight.
Returning champion George Ivanov of Bulgaria pinned Jason Welch to reach the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. Ivanov was a two-time All-American for Nebraska-Omaha and an NCAA qualifier for Boise State.
The third and final day of the three-day Schultz event is set for Saturday, with women’s freestyle competing.
FINALS MATCHUPS
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Omak Syuryun (Russia) vs. Tyler Graff (New York AC)
61 kg/134 lbs.
Bajrang Bajrang (India) vs. Vladimir Flegontov (Russia)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids) vs. Reece Humphrey (New York AC)
70 kg/154 lbs.
Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids) vs. Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs.
George Ivanov (Bulgaria) vs. Kiril Terziev (Bulgaria)
86 kg/189 lbs.
Clayton Foster (GRIT Athletics) vs. Richard Perry (New York AC)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids) vs. Cayle Byers (Titan Mercury WC)
125 kg/275 lbs.
Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids) vs. Pavel Krivtsov (Russia)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Tyler Graff is back on the mat.
And he’s returned with a vengeance.
The past U.S. Junior and University World Team member turned in an impressive first session to storm into the Dave Schultz Memorial International finals on Friday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
Graff capped his strong early run by pinning 2011 World Team member Nick Simmons in the men’s freestyle semifinals at 57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Graff, a 2014 NCAA runner-up for Wisconsin, advances to face returning Schultz champion Omak Syuryun of Russia in the finals. Graff also knocked off 2013 World Team member Angel Escobedo 4-1 in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Graff was one of 10 Americans to reach the finals. The finals are set for 5:15 p.m. Mountain Time.
It will be a great matchup in the finals at 65 kg/143 lbs. with two-time World Team member Reece Humphrey set to battle past Junior World medalist and two-time NCAA champion Jordan Oliver.
Humphrey powered into the finals with a 10-0 technicall fall over Russia’s Murad Nukhkadiev.
“I am wrestling pretty well. I’m finally filling into the weight class,” Humphrey said. “I wrestled some guys who were pretty big, but I am not feeling it like I did at the Bill Farrell International or at the Trials even.
“Things are looking really good for me. I came in ranked eighth in the country. I don’t know how that works. It’s not like I’m No. 1. I have nothing to lose. I need to be in shape and wrestle really hard, and I can do that a lot easier at 65 kg.”
2009 World Team member Dustin Schlatter looked strong in advancing to the finals against 2014 World Team member Nick Marable at 70 kg/154 lbs.
Schlatter, an NCAA champion for Minnesota, remains a top prospect in freestyle despite not competing much in recent years.
“I feel good. It’s the first time out there in a while,” Schlatter said. “I wrestled a couple of matches in the summer. I had a long break. I am getting my rhythm down and having fun. I will stay at this weight for this year.
“My goal is to win the World title. For the first time in my Senior career, I have a weight class which is probably right for me.”
2012 Schultz champion Dom Bradley advanced to the finals against Russia’s Pavel Krivtsov at heavyweight.
Returning champion George Ivanov of Bulgaria pinned Jason Welch to reach the finals at 74 kg/163 lbs. Ivanov was a two-time All-American for Nebraska-Omaha and an NCAA qualifier for Boise State.
The third and final day of the three-day Schultz event is set for Saturday, with women’s freestyle competing.
FINALS MATCHUPS
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Omak Syuryun (Russia) vs. Tyler Graff (New York AC)
61 kg/134 lbs.
Bajrang Bajrang (India) vs. Vladimir Flegontov (Russia)
65 kg/143 lbs.
Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids) vs. Reece Humphrey (New York AC)
70 kg/154 lbs.
Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids) vs. Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs.
George Ivanov (Bulgaria) vs. Kiril Terziev (Bulgaria)
86 kg/189 lbs.
Clayton Foster (GRIT Athletics) vs. Richard Perry (New York AC)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Dustin Kilgore (Sunkist Kids) vs. Cayle Byers (Titan Mercury WC)
125 kg/275 lbs.
Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids) vs. Pavel Krivtsov (Russia)
